. >> a little sad we get this excited to find out people are actually talking to each other in washington. but it's a reality check, sign of the times. it's always better when the two top men who got to make the decision ultimately are getting in a room without scameras and moving proposals back and forth. it's a sign of progress. is it progress in the next 48 to 72 hours? that's probably optimistic. but progress is being made because conversation is occurring. >> i hate to say this, i was really thrilled we weren't getting a whole lot the last two days which signaled to me at least maybe these guys have decided it's not good to work this out in the court of public opinion, yet now we're starting to hear a little more. good news, bad news? >> i think it's encouraging. among republicans there's an emerging view that was championed by representative cole of oklahoma, wait a second, what we can do is pass one law that extends all the middle income tax cuts and another that extends the whole package and then let the president veto one, let the other go through and we shield a large majority o